Improvement in hoese hay-fobks



@einen taten @anni @frn LINUS S. MASON, OF MIDDLEFIELD CENTRE,v NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 74,106, dated February 4, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE HAY-FORKS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be itknown that I, L. S. MASON, of Middlefield Centre, in the county ofOtsego, and State of New York have invented anew and improved Horse Hay-Fork; and I do hereby declare that the following i-s a full, clear, and exact description thereof, vwhich will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. l

i Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved hay-fork.

Figure 2 is a similar view, partly in section, of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail horizontal'seetional view of the same, the plane of section being indicated bythe line :I: w, Iig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new harpoon haylfork, which is provided with tines projecting from the sides of its shank, so that the hay, straw, or grain will be prevented from slipping on the shank.

The great objection to harpoon-forks has always been lthe small amount of bearing provided in vthe same for the hay or straw. The two tines which are provided on the lower end of the shank are insuihcient to support and hold a load of hay or straw, which will slip off', and only a small quantity, resting directly on the tines, will be elevated. Especially for the hoisting of straight-grain straw are these harpoon-forks inoperative.

i To avoid these difficulties, I have provided the arm, which slides in the shank of the fork, and which operates the ordinary lower tines, with tines on the sides, so that support will be provided for the straw or hay along the whole length of the shank.

A represents the slotted tubular or hollow shank of o. harpoon hay-fork.` B is a bar, sliding in the saine,V

carrying the ordinary lower tines c c, and operating lthem in the shank or tube'A', as usual. Dis a spring catch, for locking the bar B in its upper and lower positions. The construction of the har B, tines C, andcatch D may be varied at pleasure, and does not form part of my invention. '.Lo the sides oi' the bar B is pivoted, at suitable intervals from each other, a series of tines, E E, asshown in iig. 2, which project through holes arranged in one or more of the sides of the shank A, when the bar B is pushed down, as in iig. 1.

Thus a series of tines ismade to project from the shank of harpoon-forks. The eiciency of the fork will still be increased if it is provided with pointed guards F F on the sides, as shown, or with a pointed hea-d.

I claim as new, anddesire to secure by` Letters Patent Y 1. The tines E E, which project from one or more of the sides of the shank of a harpoon hayfork above the ordinary harpoons C, and which can he drawn in and out at will, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. A harpoon hay-fork, when provided with tinesE E on the sidbs of its shank, and with pointed side guards F F, all made and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

' LINUS S. MASON.

Witness es:

EDWIN R. Tnlrr, C. H. BURNS. 

